74. Auslin

Chapter 74

Auslin

D espite his frustrations of not being able to get a straight answer out of Kizoshi, Auslin was still in a good mood. He lounged on the outside veranda, absorbed in a book he had borrowed from Kisano. When he heard Kitaro enter, he set his book aside. "Welcome back!" He grew concerned by the dark expression on the dragon prince's face. "Oh, no. What happened?"

Kitaro sat near Auslin, looking out at the garden for a long moment. It took him some time before he could speak. "Father has decided to go to war against the griffin shifters in Balsimi."

"That means weeks away from Mitsuki!" Kitaro's troubled expression dampened Auslin's excitement. "Wait, is he not going because of what I did to his hand? "

"No, he will still go as a member of the military to fight."

"Then why do you look so upset?"

"Because Father informed me I will be joining them."

Auslin's heart sank. "Do you mean you have to go, as in you'll actually be fighting in the war?"

"Yes."

Given how little Kitaro was involved in the military side of his family life, Auslin didn't understand why he would suddenly be conscripted to fight. "Then I'm coming with you." Auslin refused to be parted from Kitaro.

He shook his head. "You cannot come. The battlefield is no place for you."

Vanra tried not to feel hurt by the brush-off. "I know I'm not a good enough fighter to be on the front lines, but I can heal warriors who get injured! You can't expect me to sit here and do nothing!"

"You absolutely cannot go," Kitaro firmly told him.

"Why, because I'm human?"

Kitaro frowned with concern. "Yes, because you are mortal. I cannot bear a repeat of what happened with the snake shifters or something even worse happening to you."

"But I can heal myself! And Hibiki can help me, too." Auslin felt like he was flailing. "I'm not a normal helpless human, damn it!"

Kitaro cupped Auslin's cheek in his hand. "Please understand I cannot fight the way I need to if you are there. I would fight to protect you, not win a war. It could get us both killed."

As much as Auslin didn't want to concede the point, he knew Kitaro was right. "But how can I sit here doing nothing while waiting for you to return?"

"I am asking you to stay here and be my reason to come home," Kitaro brushed his thumb against Auslin's cheekbone with heartbreaking tenderness. "I could slay ten armies single-handedly if I knew it meant I could come home to you. And Kizoshi has sworn to me you will be safe here while I am gone."

Auslin didn't have any way of refusing Kitaro's request when he put it that way. He could only whisper Kitaro's name, wishing there was something he could do to make things different.

Kitaro kissed Auslin, but it quickly went from sweet to having an edge of desperation. Auslin clung to Kitaro, unable to bear the thought that they were soon going to be separated. When they parted, he asked, "How long will you be gone?"

"If Father relies on Kisano's advice, it should be only a couple of months."

"Months!" Auslin exclaimed in distress. " Months ?"

Kitaro pulled him into an embrace. "I have no choice, Vanra. Please understand, this is not something I volunteered to do. I would give anything to stay here with you and not go to battle."

"Why is your father making you do this? "

"My suspicion is that this is a silent warning to Mitsuki that Father could easily choose me as the new heir to the throne if he does not start behaving in a manner befitting someone of his station," Kitaro guessed.

Auslin's stomach clenched with nervousness. "But what if Mitsuki sees you as a threat to his position because of this and tries to kill you?"

"Mitsuki knows perfectly well that I have no interest in ruling. Even if he becomes paranoid I was out for his position, I could easily defend myself against him. I am the superior warrior, even if he will never admit it."

The answer was small consolation to Auslin as tears welled up in his eyes.

Kitaro wiped away Auslin's tears as they fell. "If there was any way I could get out of this, I would. The thought of being away from you that long is torture."

"What am I supposed to do while you're gone?" Auslin's entire life at the castle revolved around Kitaro, so to be faced without his presence for months was deeply unnerving to Auslin.

"Kisano would certainly be glad of your company," Kitaro said. "Fersen and Tyrian will also be here. Kizoshi might even stop by for another visit. You could also resume your visits to the temple again."

That didn't keep Auslin company at night. It would be so strange sleeping alone again. "Swear to me you will come back home unharmed."

"I will return to you unharmed, as fast as possible."

Auslin asked the dreaded question. "When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow morning."

"But why so soon?" Auslin could feel his panic rising. "I thought these kinds of things took months of planning."

"And so it has," Kitaro said. "Father has been planning it while we were on our journey, but he neglected to tell me until now that my presence was required. I believe it was to prevent me from coming up with a credible way to get out of going."

There were so many things Auslin could say, but he didn't want to cry again. He resigned himself to a pouty "This really sucks."

"It does indeed."